Rocky River Trout Unlimited

  • Rocky River TU
    • RRTU Events >
      • Monthly Meetings
      • Streamside Day Trips
      • Alarka Trips
      • Fly Tying Classes >
        • Instructional Tyers
    • Davidson River HEP
    • Conservation >
      • Conservation Partners >
        • NC Camo Coalition
    • Diversity >
      • WOMEN ON THE FLY
      • BSA Merit Badge
    • We welcome your feedback!
    • Become a TU Member
    • Mission and Brief History
  • Calendar
  • FORR
  • Programs
    • Trout In The Classroom
    • RiverCourse Fly Fishing Youth Camp
    • Casting Carolinas
    • Wilson Creek Adopt-A-Stream and Stream Watch
    • South Mountain Adopt-A-Park
    • Stone Mountain State Park
  • Resources
    • Fly of the Month Patterns >
      • Dry Attractor >
        • Stealth Bomber
      • DRY FLY PATTERNS >
        • Adams Variant
        • Asher
        • Baigent's Variant
        • Blue Quill
        • BWO
        • BWO Catskill
        • BWO CDC Emerger
        • BWO Sparkle Dun
        • BWO Spinner
        • Carolina Wulff
        • CDC Biot Comparadun
        • CDL Comparadun
        • Coachman Variant
        • Crackleback
        • Dragonfly Dry
        • Dry Pheasant Tail Variant
        • Dun Fly, August Fly,Wasp Fly
        • Early Nelson
        • Egg Laying Caddis
        • Elk Hair Caddis
        • EZ Caddis
        • Female Adams
        • Fluttering Caddis
        • Gray Fox Variant
        • Griffith's Gnat
        • H & L Variant
        • Hopper Juan
        • Japanese Beetle
        • Jassid
        • Jim Charley
        • Klinkhamer
        • Lacewing
        • Light Cahill Catskill
        • Little Green and Little Yellow Stonefly
        • Mr. Rapidan
        • North Carolina Yellow Sally
        • Parachute Adams
        • Puff Diddy
        • October Caddis
        • Orange Forked Tail
        • Rattler
        • Red Headed Caddis
        • Smoky Mountian Candy
        • Trude
        • Rusty Spinner
        • Sulphurs Part 1
        • Sulphur Part 2
        • Yellow Palmer
      • Midges >
        • Grey Goose Midge Emerger
        • Morgan's Midge
      • Nymphs >
        • Brassie
        • Chironimid
        • Copper John
        • Crossover Nymph
        • Crow Fly
        • Damsel Fly Nymph
        • Deep Sparkle Caddis Pupa
        • Devil's Doorstop
        • Girdle Bug
        • Gold Ribbed Hare's Ear
        • Hot Creek Special
        • Mr. Rapidan
        • Peridgon Nymph
        • Realistic Stonefly
        • Royal Prince
        • Scud
        • Egan's Tasmanian Devil
        • Tups Indespensible
      • Scud >
        • UV Scud
      • Soft Hackles >
        • Center Bead Soft Hackle
        • Orange Partridge Soft Hackle
    • Fly Patterns
    • RRTU Class Recipes
    • NC General Hatch Charts
    • Fly Shops, Outfitters and Guides
    • Fly Fishing >
      • RRTU Reference Fly Tying >
        • Entomology Basics
        • More Entomology Basics
      • More Fly Fishing Basics
      • Fly Fishing Tips
      • Trout Fishing & Trout Fishing Stories
    • Fly Casting
    • History, Reading, References >
      • S. Appalachian & Smoky Mtn History >
        • Archive History >
          • Archive History
          • FORR Campaign >
            • FORR 2020
    • Calendar Copy
  • RRTU Store
  • Rocky River TU
    • RRTU Events >
      • Monthly Meetings
      • Streamside Day Trips
      • Alarka Trips
      • Fly Tying Classes >
        • Instructional Tyers
    • Davidson River HEP
    • Conservation >
      • Conservation Partners >
        • NC Camo Coalition
    • Diversity >
      • WOMEN ON THE FLY
      • BSA Merit Badge
    • We welcome your feedback!
    • Become a TU Member
    • Mission and Brief History
  • Calendar
  • FORR
  • Programs
    • Trout In The Classroom
    • RiverCourse Fly Fishing Youth Camp
    • Casting Carolinas
    • Wilson Creek Adopt-A-Stream and Stream Watch
    • South Mountain Adopt-A-Park
    • Stone Mountain State Park
  • Resources
    • Fly of the Month Patterns >
      • Dry Attractor >
        • Stealth Bomber
      • DRY FLY PATTERNS >
        • Adams Variant
        • Asher
        • Baigent's Variant
        • Blue Quill
        • BWO
        • BWO Catskill
        • BWO CDC Emerger
        • BWO Sparkle Dun
        • BWO Spinner
        • Carolina Wulff
        • CDC Biot Comparadun
        • CDL Comparadun
        • Coachman Variant
        • Crackleback
        • Dragonfly Dry
        • Dry Pheasant Tail Variant
        • Dun Fly, August Fly,Wasp Fly
        • Early Nelson
        • Egg Laying Caddis
        • Elk Hair Caddis
        • EZ Caddis
        • Female Adams
        • Fluttering Caddis
        • Gray Fox Variant
        • Griffith's Gnat
        • H & L Variant
        • Hopper Juan
        • Japanese Beetle
        • Jassid
        • Jim Charley
        • Klinkhamer
        • Lacewing
        • Light Cahill Catskill
        • Little Green and Little Yellow Stonefly
        • Mr. Rapidan
        • North Carolina Yellow Sally
        • Parachute Adams
        • Puff Diddy
        • October Caddis
        • Orange Forked Tail
        • Rattler
        • Red Headed Caddis
        • Smoky Mountian Candy
        • Trude
        • Rusty Spinner
        • Sulphurs Part 1
        • Sulphur Part 2
        • Yellow Palmer
      • Midges >
        • Grey Goose Midge Emerger
        • Morgan's Midge
      • Nymphs >
        • Brassie
        • Chironimid
        • Copper John
        • Crossover Nymph
        • Crow Fly
        • Damsel Fly Nymph
        • Deep Sparkle Caddis Pupa
        • Devil's Doorstop
        • Girdle Bug
        • Gold Ribbed Hare's Ear
        • Hot Creek Special
        • Mr. Rapidan
        • Peridgon Nymph
        • Realistic Stonefly
        • Royal Prince
        • Scud
        • Egan's Tasmanian Devil
        • Tups Indespensible
      • Scud >
        • UV Scud
      • Soft Hackles >
        • Center Bead Soft Hackle
        • Orange Partridge Soft Hackle
    • Fly Patterns
    • RRTU Class Recipes
    • NC General Hatch Charts
    • Fly Shops, Outfitters and Guides
    • Fly Fishing >
      • RRTU Reference Fly Tying >
        • Entomology Basics
        • More Entomology Basics
      • More Fly Fishing Basics
      • Fly Fishing Tips
      • Trout Fishing & Trout Fishing Stories
    • Fly Casting
    • History, Reading, References >
      • S. Appalachian & Smoky Mtn History >
        • Archive History >
          • Archive History
          • FORR Campaign >
            • FORR 2020
    • Calendar Copy
  • RRTU Store

Join us for some time on the water....

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Rocky River Chapter Trout Unlimited Charlotte, North Carolina
We Conserve, Protect and Sustain our
Coldwater Natural Resources

          Upcoming Events:
Spring Alarka Camping- April 11- April 14
​Trout in the Classroom Releases - April 4, more below

Fall Alarka Camping- October 10 - 
October 13

Spring Alarka 

Okay folks, the Spring camping/fishing adventure is right around the corner.  Thursday April 11 through Sunday April 14 Rocky River will be at the Alarka Smoky Mountain Meadows Campground.  Please plan to join us by registering/paying for the amount of days you plan to attend.  
In addition to the excellent, multiple fishing sites in the immediate or close area, there will be meals and entertainment.  It is a terrific chance to meet and spend quality time with our fellow chapter members.  Young and old alike.

This year we are repeating the excellent opportunity to win a brand spanking new Orvis Helios 3 of your choosing.  This is the newest rod technology and an amazing fly rod.  We are reviving the 52 Card draw to win.  You can purchase cards in advance at a cost of 20.00 per chance.  Don't forget this is an eight hundred dollar rod and you are part of a one in fifty two odds drawing.  

52 Card $20.00

Trout in the Classroom Releases 2019

Volunteers are Invited !


One of the most successful programs our chapter is the TIC (Trout in the Classroom) and it is one of the most most enjoyable for participants. Raised from eggs and releasing small fish in a trout stream, involving a classroom's participation for nearly the entire school year.  Learning why trout environments are critical to their success is knowledge and hands on experience will last a lifetime.  The year's work culminates in a wonderful day for the children, teachers, parents and RRTU releasing the fledgling trout into a trout stream in a NC state park.  The smiles are priceless.  Please plan to attend as many of these as possible, and like the children, you will be joyfully rewarded.
Releases are at South Mountains State Park in Connelly Springs NC and begin at 9:00 am until approximately 11:30

TIC Release Dates 2019

April 4      Cramerton Middle School
April 5     Sherwood Elementary, Gastonia
April 9     Battleground Elementary, Lincolnton 
April 10   Sedgefield Middle School and Whitewater Middle   School
April 11    York Chester Middle School
April 15    Pinewood Elementary
April 16    York Chester
April 18     Pinewood Elementary
April 25   JTW Montessori School
April 26    Providence Day School
May 10   Quail Hollow Middle School
May 15   St Patrick Catholic School
May 22   Charlotte Country Day School
May 31   Pleasant Knoll Middle School
​

​

The last session of RRTU Fly Tying -

We had another terrific turnout on Saturday for the last tying session, until this Fall.  Great to see everyone this year and great to see lots of new faces.  There are some very talented and very motivated folks at our sessions.  We are lucky to have this opportunity to gather in one place for such fun days.  Some are even sad it has come to a close so quickly.  Please enjoy these photos and watch for the announcements for the next group of sessions.  Thanks to everyone who attended and made this happen and be a such a pleasure to attend.

Friends of Rocky River Trout Unlimited ​Celebration 2019

What  a great night we had at our Friends of Rocky River Celebration.  It was great to see everyone, great to talk with old friends and meet new ones, great food, and great auctions.  Lots of cool stuff went out the door.  Thanks to everyone for their generous donations and contributions making it so successful.  This has been and continues to be one of the best nights of the year for us and we look forward to another successful year of Rocky River Trout Unlimited.  Enjoy these photos.

Alarka Fall 2018

The Fall Alarka was terrific with excellent Fall weather and great companionship followed by even better fishing.       Tim Ramsey won the card raffle and a brand new Orvis Helios rod !
Make plans to join us in the Spring !


​FLY OF THE MONTH
March 2019

LEARN MORE
Black Gnat
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Fly of The Month 03.19
In the archives, books refer to very tiny aquatic flying insects as Smut or Gnat. Our modern term that we use is typically midge or the scientific name diptera which is broader and includes Chironomid, mosquitos, black flies and crane flies.However, we still call them gnats when they fly around our face seeking the liquid tears in our eyeballs. The wingless, standard midge dry flies may well be included here but they are not included because they are rarely referred to as an imitation of a gnat.
Gnat Dry Fly and Wet Fly Group
The Black Gnat fly pattern tied with a black ostrich herl body and an orange tip is presented as part of his wet fly collection in Bergman’s book entitled Trout, published as the fourth edition in 1940. A modern standard dry fly version is basically the same color combination except with stiff dry fly hackle and upright and divided wings. The Leisenring Black Gnat is fundamentally a soft hackle version with a dubbed black body and gold wire ribbing.
The Griffith Gnat is a palmered dry fly pattern that is intended to be an imitation of a midge cluster, originally tied with a peacock herl body and a grizzly hackle, palmered over the body. One of the best variation is the Hi-Vis Griffith Gant with the addition of a highly visible, bright fluorescent colored tuft above the head of the fly. There are a multitude of color variations being tied and marketed today. These include various dyed-peacock herl bodies of tan, dark tan, purple, gray, insect green, gold, BWO and black as well as various dyed grizzly hackle such as olive, yellow, red and purple. An endless combination of colors to imitate any cluster midges.
The Prime Gnat fly with black body, wing, hackle and tail, and a red butt, was the creation of William Cowper Prime, 1825-1905, author of I Go A Fishingpublished in 1873. A graduate of Princeton, 1843, he engaged in the practice of law in New York from 1846 to 1861. He was editor of the Journal of Commerce from 1861 to 1869. He served as vice president of the Metropolitan Museum of Art after 1874. In 1884 he was professor of history and art at Princeton. It was Prime who said, “The angler, I think, dreams of his favorite sport oftener than other men of theirs.” 
The Prime Gnat wet fly can also be found in Bergman’sTrouton Plate No. 7, page 169. Harold Smedley also seems to offer a second version: “The Prime Gnat has a peacock body; gold tip; and dark slate wings.”
                  Whether imitating a cluster, which is a sneaky way to use a larger, more visible fly with more hooking power, or imitating a larger gnat sized aquatic insect, these simple to tie fly patterns catch trout.
 
The Gnat Dry Fly and Wet Fly Group:
Black Gnat, Leisenring’s Black Gnat
Griffith Gnat, Hi-Vis Griffith Gnat, Griffith Gnat variations
Prime Gnat
Tom Adams and Alen Baker
References:
Smedley, Harold Hinsdill. Fly Patterns and Their Origins, 1944
Bergman, Ray. Trout

Rocky River Events

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Join us in the activities that are of interest to you and become one with our cold-water resources.

Join Chapter 348 - Rocky River

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The members of the Rocky River Chapter support a number of local area programs. Join Us Today!

Rocky River Programs

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Rocky River Trout Unlimited members are heavily involved in a number of conservation projects and programs.
Fly Patterns
RRTU Gallery
Trout in the Classroom
Newsletter Signup

NOTICE: A quick overview of the calendar is now at the top of this page under Upcoming Events.
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We who trout fish together ...will work together to
Conserve,  Protect,  and Restore our Coldwater Streams

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Rocky River Chapter of Trout Unlimited (RRTU) 348


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